“Obviously, I was disappointed not to make the squad but I was up against some class opposition. The only thing I can do now is keep working and trying to put in top performances.”
So said Scott Williams after he missed out on the British & Irish Lions squad to tour New Zealand this summer.
While we in Ireland lamented Garry Ringrose missing out on the Lions and most of us felt sorry for Jamie Roberts after his name was, incorrectly, linked with a shock selection, one man slipped under the radar.
26 years old, heading for 70 Test caps and a solid, solid pro, Williams was one of the rare Welsh internationals who could well and truly consider himself unlucky to miss out.
Keep working. Keep trying.
Williams certainly did that as he performed like a Trojan for Scarlets. Along with James Davies and Tadhg Beirne [a former Leinster lock], Williams was one of the stand-out player on the RDS pitch.
Scarlets won out 27-15 after playing the final 42 minutes with 14 men. The Welsh outfit will now face the winners of Saturday’s semi-final between Munster and Ospreys.
As soon as the final whistle sounded, former Ireland outhalf Ronan O’Gara was watching from France and couldn’t help but be impressed with Williams.
Huge satisfaction for Scott Williams tonight.The only one of the Welsh starting backs left out.Must be an incredibly mentally tough player.👍
— Ronan O Gara (@RonanOGara10) May 19, 2017
We may see the Welsh centre on the Lions Tour yet.
